This collection contains photocopies of documents relating to the trials of the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Mormon leaders who were killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill., in 1844. These items include a published transcript of the trial of Joseph Smith's murderers; two excerpts taken from the official Circuit Court Journal record of that trial; and a list of witnesses subpoenaed for the trial of Hyrum Smith's murderers. The collection also contains a copy of a Guardian Bond stating that Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and William Law share responsibilities for the Lawrence children.

Eugene Johnson donated the photocopies to the Illinois Historical Survey in 1973.